You can begin teaching in California with a bachelor’s degree, but you will need a teaching credential to teach students with special needs. You may consider pursuing a master’s degree or add-on credential if you’d like to focus your studies on teaching students with special needs.
California has a need for special education teachers. The state’s Department of Education estimates that there are approximately 314,000 children in the state who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). If you want to become a special education teacher, California is a great place to start your career.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), California employed the largest number of special education teachers out of all states during the 2017-18 school year. There were 41,720 special education teachers working in California public schools at that time.
To become a special education teacher in California, you must first earn your bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. Then, you can apply to work as a special education teacher in any California public school or private school that accepts credentialed teachers.
If you want to be a special education teacher, you must earn an undergraduate degree in either early childhood education or elementary and secondary education with an emphasis on special needs students. You may find that it’s best to choose an accredited program that is designed specifically for aspiring special education teachers. Make sure to select a program that involves plenty of hands-on experience working directly with students with disabilities.
While there are some similarities between the different paths, special education teachers require a different set of skills than your typical teacher would need. The main difference between special education teachers and traditional teachers is that special education teachers work with students who have disabilities.
A special education teacher requires a strong background in psychology or sociology as well as a teaching certificate. The requirements are similar to what traditional teachers would need but with an emphasis on understanding students with disabilities, which is why it is important to start by determining if this is a field that you want to pursue.
A high school diploma or GED equivalent; An Associate’s Degree from an accredited college; A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college; and A Master’s Degree in Education from an accredited college.
There is no doubt that being a special education teacher is one of the most important jobs in the world. If you are interested in becoming a special education teacher, look no further than California, where you will find all of the resources and support you need to become a successful special educator.
To become a special education teacher in California, you will first need to complete your Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Once you have completed your Bachelor’s degree, you will be required to submit proof of certification through an accredited university or college, as well as pass two exams that are administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
Upon completion of these requirements, you will need to complete two years of teaching experience and obtain a California teaching credential. This credential can be obtained through either a traditional classroom setting or through online courses.
Once you have completed these requirements, the next step is to apply for and be accepted into a school that offers special education programs. You should also take some time to research and understand what your responsibilities will be once you become a special education teacher. There are many different areas in which you can specialize in order to become more effective at educating children with special needs.
Becoming a special education teacher in California involves several steps. The first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree in special education. Next, you’ll need to get a teaching credential, which will require completing a teacher preparation program and passing the CBEST exam. Once you’ve earned your teaching credential, you’ll need to pass the CSET exam, obtain a master’s degree in special education and complete an internship in order to earn your preliminary single-subject teaching credential. Then, you’ll need to work for at least three years as a full-time special education teacher under this credential before applying for your clear credential.